Strengths: Mostly good cleansers; a well-formulated serum; a good absorbent gel for oily skin; the makeup is the crown jewel of this line, with many superb options, particularly the powders, bronzers, eyeshadows, brow gel, Glaze Lip Color, High-Volume Mascara, and Shimmer Pressed Powder; McEvoy's makeup brushes and makeup planners are practically peerless.

Weaknesses: Expensive; average moisturizers; sunscreens don't provide sufficient UVA protection; no effective AHA or BHA products; jar packaging; the foundations don't have that extra something that raises the bar (yet they should for what they cost); the concealers either crease endlessly or are difficult to work with; disappointing eyeliner options; the lip color with sunscreen leaves lips vulnerable to UVA damage.

Two things remained consistent during my visits to various Trish McEvoy counters: The makeup artists were very knowledgeable about how to use the products to achieve the best results, and all of them remarked that McEvoy is a perfectionist. New York City–based Trish McEvoy knows a lot about makeup and how to use it to one's advantage, but we're afraid her perfectionist nature did not translate into across-the-board perfect products. There's much to love about her makeup, from improved powder-based products to her peerless brushes and ingenious day planner–style makeup cases. But while other artistry-driven lines are churning out innovative products and broadening their range so customers are treated to a variety that encompasses almost every preference, McEvoy continues to lag behind.

McEvoy's motto is "real makeup for real women," and we have no doubt that most women will be pleased with the manner in which this line allows them to assemble their own well-organized makeup kits. The products aren't inexpensive by any means, but sometimes convenience is worth the price, and many of the items (such as the formidable brushes) will need to be purchased only once. And keep in mind that McEvoy's Planners have room for other companies' products, so committing to this system doesn't limit you to only one product line.

Although the tester units have been visually improved and the products organized in a more logical manner, you'll still need a salesperson's assistance to identify product type and shade names. For example, while looking at the powder eyeshadows (McEvoy offers several formulas) we had to lift up the tiny powder tablets to see which formula we were testing. The same deficiency applies to nearly everything on the tester units, which makes shopping this line more frustrating than enjoyable. However, if you come across a McEvoy makeup artist, they are (at least in my experience) genuinely helpful and more than willing to demonstrate products without being pushy. We appreciate the emphasis on artistry over sales, because many of these products (applied well) sell themselves. Pay attention to the powders (regular, bronzing, and shiny), eyeshadows, mascaras, brow gel, Glaze Lip Color, and the aforementioned brushes and you're bound to be thrilled with your experience at a Trish McEvoy counter.

McEvoy and her husband, dermatologist Dr. Ronald Sherman, formulated her latest group of skin-care products. We naturally wanted to assume this meant improved products, including sunscreens with sufficient UVA protection and no fragrance (after all, a dermatologist should know better). Unfortunately, my assumption was wrong. It's not that all of McEvoy's latest skin-care products are bad. Rather, it's just that the formulas lack a state-of-the-art edge to accompany their prestige prices, and the few sunscreens available are seriously deficient.